Method for Low-Noise Charging of Motor Vehicles, and Motor Vehicle

ABSTRACT

A method for charging at least one electrical energy storage device of a motor vehicle includes (i) acquiring at least one piece of information regarding a charging point selected for the charging process; and (ii) limiting the maximum noise which the motor vehicle or the at least one electrical energy storage device may emit during the charging process, using the at least one piece of information.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Battery-operated motor vehicles are known from the prior art. They arecharged at charging stations. In particular in the case of fastcharging, it may be the case that undesirable noise emissions ariseduring charging of the motor vehicle. Noise emissions generally increasewith charging power. Although a high charging power is generallydesirable, the accompanying noise emissions may be unacceptable in someregions (residential areas, pedestrian zones, etc.) but acceptable inother regions (for example in industrial regions, etc.).

One preferred object of the technology disclosed here is to reduce or toalleviate at least one disadvantage of a previously known solution or topropose an alternative solution. One preferred object of the technologydisclosed here is in particular to allow fast charging of motor vehicleswith preferably simple, inexpensive and easy-to-establish methods,without the noise emissions thereby increasing excessively greatly inregions that are sensitive in relation to noise emissions. Furtherpreferred objects may become apparent from the advantageous effects ofthe technology disclosed here. The one or more objects is or areachieved by the claimed invention.

The technology disclosed here comprises in particular a method forcharging at least one electrical energy storage device of a motorvehicle. The method comprises the following steps:

acquiring at least one item of information from a charging pointselected for the charging process; and

limiting the maximum noise emissions that the motor vehicle or theenergy storage device are allowed to emit during the charging processusing the information.

According to this preferred embodiment, provision may be made for themotor vehicle to use the maximum noise limit value disclosed here toregulate or control the charging process, in particular to regulate orcontrol the cooling device of the electrical energy storage device. Forthis purpose, for example, signals indicative of a maximum acousticpressure limit level may be transmitted to a controller responsible forthe cooling device of the energy storage device, wherein the signalsthen lead for example to the cooling fan or the coolant compressor beingoperated so quietly that the overall noise emissions of the motorvehicle or of the energy storage device comply with a limit value thatis specified (for example by legal requirements). The cooling power maythereby be reduced. If, as a result, the cooling device is then not ableto provide enough cooling power to cool the electrical energy storagedevice, provision may be made for the motor vehicle to initiate orspecify a reduction in the charging power or the charging current.

The technology disclosed here comprises a further method for chargingthe at least one electrical energy storage device of the motor vehicle,comprising the step in which at least one maximum charging limitparameter corresponding to the maximum noise emissions of the motorvehicle or of the energy storage device is specified to the motorvehicle to be charged for the charging process, wherein thisspecification is used to limit the maximum noise emissions that themotor vehicle or the energy storage device emits during the chargingprocess. The charging limit parameter may expediently be the maximumelectric charging power or the maximum electric charging current. Thecharging limit parameter may be specified for example by the chargingstation or by the server.

In this embodiment, provision may thus advantageously be made for themotor vehicle not to use the maximum noise limit value in order toregulate or to control the cooling device and the charging power drawnfrom the charging station, but rather the charging station itselfdirectly or indirectly limits the electric charging power for thecharging process of the motor vehicle in order thus to limit the noiseemissions of the motor vehicle or of the energy storage device. In otherwords, in one step, the electric charging power provided to the motorvehicle is thus limited by specified maximum noise emissions, whereinthe limitation of the charging power due to the maximum noise emissionshas a higher priority than other charging parameters that could permithigher charging powers than the limited charging power. In other words,according to the method, provision is expediently made for the limitingof the charging power based on the maximum noise emissions to beconfigured to overrule one or more charging power specificationsresulting from one or more other parameters of the charging station ifthese one or more charging power specifications would permit highercharging powers.

The motor vehicle may be for example a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle(PHEV), a battery electric vehicle (BEV) or a fuel cell vehicle (FCEV).The motor vehicle may also be referred to as an electric car.

The electrical energy storage device is a device for storing electricalenergy, in particular for driving at least one electric (traction) drivemachine. The energy storage device comprises at least one single cell,which forms the electrochemical energy storage cell. Provision isgenerally made for a plurality of single cells. By way of example, theenergy storage device may be a high-voltage storage unit or ahigh-voltage battery.

A charging point is a charging device at which only one motor vehicle isable to be charged at the same time. Charging stations may have one ormore charging points. Charging stations at which multiple motor vehiclesare able to be charged at the same time accordingly comprise multiplecharging points. The charging station or the charging point isexpediently a stationary device.

The maximum noise emissions that the motor vehicle or the energy storagedevice are allowed to emit during the charging process are the maximumnoise emissions of the motor vehicle or of the energy storage devicethat are allowed to occur during charging. Noise or noise emissions inthis connection are understood in particular to mean noise that isliable, in terms of type, extent or duration, to bring about hazards,considerable disadvantages or considerable pollution for the generalsurroundings or the neighborhood. In one preferred embodiment, themaximum noise emissions may be limited by limiting the noise emissionsemitted by the cooling device of the electrical energy storage device.The maximum noise emissions could for example be specified or influencedby rules, standards, technical policies, etc.

Provision may expediently be made, in the methods disclosed here, forthe maximum noise emissions that the motor vehicle or the energy storagedevice are allowed to emit to be limited using:

the day of the week on which the motor vehicle is charged;

the time of day at which the motor vehicle is charged; and/or

the date on which the motor vehicle is charged.

By way of example, some or all days may advantageously be divided intovarious times of day (throughout the day, at lunchtime, in the evening,at night) at which the maximum noise emissions from the motor vehicle orenergy storage device may each be limited to a different extent. Thetimes of day may vary by country or region. By way of example, thefollowing times of day may be defined:

throughout the day: 06:00-22:00

at night: 22:00-06:00

at lunchtime: 13:00-15:00

in the evening: 20:00-22:00

As an alternative or in addition, the maximum noise emissions may belimited to a different extent for example for Sundays and bank holidaysand work days. The maximum noise emissions may also be limited to adifferent extent for any day of the week or for any date. The times ofday may also be defined differently for different days of the week.

The noise emissions may advantageously thus be adapted better to anyapplicable rules and at the same time the highest possible chargingpower or shortest possible charging times may be achieved.

The methods disclosed here preferably comprise the step in which asurroundings value is acquired, this being directly or indirectlyindicative of the noise emissions present in the surroundings. Thesurroundings value is expediently used when limiting the maximum noiseemissions that the motor vehicle or the energy storage device areallowed to emit during the charging process.

The surroundings value is expediently indicative of the noise emissionsthat are actually emitted, at the location of the charging process, notby the motor vehicle to be charged itself, but rather by other noisesources, or are predicted for these. In this connection, other noisesources are all noise sources that do not belong to the motor vehicle tobe charged. Other noise sources are, for example:

the charging station itself or nearby charging stations;

other motor vehicles that are charged or are to be charged at othercharging points of the charging station or at nearby charging stations;and/or

other stationary installations that emit noise.

The term “nearby” in the context of the technology disclosed herecomprises distances between two objects that are so low that the noiseemissions of both objects are generally still able to be perceivedtogether, in particular distances of less than 50 meters or less than 20meters or less than 15 meters.

Provision may advantageously be made for a microphone for acquiringnoise sources, in particular including noise sources that do not belongto the charging station itself. In one preferred embodiment, the noiseemission of the charging station and of the motor vehicles to be chargedby the charging station may be approximated based on the power demand ofthe motor vehicles. The charging station may furthermore directly orindirectly limit the noise emissions of the other motor vehicles, inparticular using one of the methods disclosed here. In one expedientembodiment, the charging station may thus ensure that specified maximumlimit values for the noise emissions are complied with and at the sametime the individual motor vehicles are charged as quickly as possible.

A direct communication link may be set up, in particular in wired orwireless form, between the motor vehicle and the charging stationcomprising the charging point. Any suitable wired or wirelesscommunication standards may be used for this purpose. In one embodiment,a communication device of the charging station transmits the at leastone item of information to the motor vehicle in accordance with the DINSPEC 70121 standard (published in December 2014) and/or the ISO 15118-1standard (first published in 2013) or standards building thereon.

Provision may likewise be made to set up indirect communication to themotor vehicle. By way of example, the motor vehicles may communicatewith the charging station by way of at least one server (also calledbackend server or backend). The at least one server may for example beoperated by the motor vehicle manufacturer, by the charging columnoperator or by a third party. The at least one server is not provided inthe motor vehicle and not provided in the charging station.

The at least one item of information may be acquired by the motorvehicle from the charging point in basically any suitable way.

One item of information of the at least one item of information may be amaximum noise limit value. The maximum noise limit value is directly orindirectly indicative of the maximum noise emissions that the motorvehicle or the energy storage device are allowed to emit during thecharging process. By way of example, the maximum noise limit value maybe a maximum acoustic pressure limit level able to be perceived at aspecified distance. A temporally averaged maximum acoustic pressure maylikewise be used as noise limit value. Variables and measuring methodsfor acquiring noise emissions and for defining a maximum noise limitvalue for the method disclosed here are known to those skilled in theart, for example from official guidelines and technical standards. Inone preferred embodiment, multiple maximum noise limit values areadopted. This is particularly advantageous if other noise limit valuesapply depending on the time of day and/or depending on the date.

Provision may thus advantageously be made for the motor vehicle todirectly or indirectly acquire the maximum noise limit value from thecharging point and to use this maximum noise limit value to regulate orcontrol the charging process such that the noise emissions are limited.

One item of information of the at least one item of information from thecharging point may be for example the identification number of thecharging point. The identification number is expediently the EVSEIDidentifier (electric vehicle supply equipment identification number),which is allotted for the billing for each charging point. Provision mayexpediently be made for the maximum noise limit value to be determinedusing the identification number. In one preferred embodiment, multiplemaximum noise limit values are determined. This is particularlyadvantageous if other noise limit values apply depending on the time ofday and/or depending on the date.

In one embodiment, provision may be made for a vehicle user or the motorvehicle (expediently just before arrival at the charging location) toselect the charging point, advantageously based on predefined selectioncriteria, such as for example current or predicted availability of thecharging point, current or predicted maximum charging power, price,parking space size, preferred electricity supplier, distance/diversionto a specified destination, etc.

In one embodiment, the maximum noise limit value may be determined inthe motor vehicle based on the identification number. As an alternativeor in addition, provision may be made for the motor vehicle to receivethe maximum noise level value wirelessly from the at least one serverand for the maximum noise limit value to have been determined on the atleast one server using the identification number.

In one embodiment, each identification number is assigned at least onemaximum noise limit value. Advantageously, in addition to theidentification number, further parameters may also be taken intoconsideration. The maximum noise limit values may be determined forexample based on a mathematical calculating operation using theidentification number or a value stored for an identification number. Amultidimensional characteristic diagram is advantageously stored in themotor vehicle or on the at least one server, in which characteristicdiagram the various maximum noise limit values are stored as a functionof the identification number and preferably also as a function offurther parameters.

Further parameters may be for example:

day of the week, time of day and/or date on and/or at which the motorvehicle is charged; and/or

the at least one surroundings value.

The specified maximum charging limit parameter is expediently determinedtaking into consideration the respective motor vehicle or the motorvehicle type. Trials and/or simulations may be used, for each motorvehicle or each motor vehicle type, to determine the correlation betweenthe charging parameter (for example charging current, charging power)and the noise emitted by the motor vehicle during charging. It is alsopossible to define vehicle classes that all have essentially the samenoise emission behavior during charging.

By way of example, the specified maximum charging limit parameter may bedependent on one or more of the following parameters:

day of the week, time of day and/or date on and/or at which the motorvehicle is charged;

the at least one surroundings value;

vehicle type or vehicle class; and/or the external temperature duringthe charging process.

The maximum charging limit parameter may be stored with theabovementioned parameters in a characteristic diagram that is stored ona server or in the charging station.

The technology disclosed here relates in particular to a method forcharging multiple motor vehicles at multiple charging points that areprovided near one another. In each of the motor vehicles, the maximumnoise emissions that the motor vehicles are allowed to emit during thecharging process are limited using one of the methods disclosed here.The maximum noise limit values and/or charging limit parameters areexpediently selected such that noise emissions jointly emitted by themultiple motor vehicles, or noise emissions jointly emitted by themultiple motor vehicles and the multiple charging points, do not exceeda limit value for the surroundings noise emissions.

If for example the noise emissions of all motor vehicles to be chargedand possibly all charging stations would lead to a permissible limitvalue for the surroundings noise emissions (for example limit values ofany noise pollution laws) being exceeded, then the noise emissions ofsome or all motor vehicles are expediently limited (further). Variousapproaches are conceivable for limiting the noise emissions of theindividual motor vehicles.

By way of example, the noise emissions (and thus ultimately the chargingpowers) of all motor vehicles could be limited by the same amount. Iffor example a limit value for surroundings noise emissions of 50 dB hasto be complied with in a residential area in the evenings and the noiseemissions of other noise sources, such as the charging station itself orother stationary structures, are negligible, then an individual motorvehicle at a charging point could be charged using one of the methodsdisclosed here such that the maximum noise emissions of the motorvehicle or of the energy storage device are limited to 50 dB during thecharging process. If in the meantime multiple motor vehicles are chargedat the same time using the same charging station, then the chargingstation reduces the maximum permissible noise emissions of theindividual motor vehicles to be charged such that the limit value forthe surroundings noise emissions of 50 dB continues to be complied withoverall and the vehicles are still charged as quickly as possible. Forthis purpose, the maximum noise emission limits of the individual motorvehicles may each be lowered by a certain amount.

It is likewise conceivable for the noise emissions of the individualmotor vehicles not all to be lowered by the same amount. The lowering ofthe noise emissions may for example be decided on by the chargingstation based on other criteria, for example:

maximizing the total charging power of the charging station, such thatthe space usage for charging is reduced, or homogenizing the chargingpower output to the various motor vehicles,

wherein the lowering takes place, taking these criteria intoconsideration, such that the limit value for the surroundings noiseemissions is complied with. The state of charge of the individual motorvehicles could also be used as a criterion for lowering individual motorvehicles in order to decide the motor vehicle for which the noiseemissions should (additionally) be lowered.

Provision is preferably made for the methods disclosed here not to beperformed just at the beginning of the charging process or of thecharging processes. Advantageously, the methods disclosed here areperformed continuously or at fixed intervals during charging. If forexample another motor vehicle is connected to another charging point ofthe charging station, then the methods disclosed here are expedientlyperformed again.

In other words, the technology disclosed here relates to a method forcharging an energy storage unit of a motor vehicle. A charging columnmay, for example in the DC charging standard PLC, transmit at least theidentification number of the charging point (charging station, chargingcolumn, wall box, etc.) connected to the motor vehicle.

The motor vehicle may additionally receive, directly from the chargingpoint, the noise limit value (that is to say the current sound levellimit or decibel limit) permissible there or the maximum charging powercorresponding to the noise.

As an alternative or in addition, the motor vehicle, with regard to theidentification number (and preferably based on further boundaryconditions such as time of day, day of the week and/or date), determinesthe permissible noise limit value:

from a list in the motor vehicle (in car); or

through a request for the identification number to the backend server(B2V) communicating with the motor vehicle from the list stored on saidserver.

The list may store one or more properties of the charging points for theidentification numbers of the charging points. A request to a backendserver may in particular contain current boundary conditions such as theinstantaneously additionally permissible noise in the surroundings ofthe charging point when the charging point or another entity determinesthis noise. The maximum noise pollution at the charging motor vehicle orcaused by multiple charging motor vehicles may thus be specified andcomplied with remotely, in particular including dynamically.

The backend server may for example be operated by a motor vehiclemanufacturer, by a charging point operator or by other informationaggregators. Each motor vehicle is able to regulate its current drawsuch that the limit of the noise emission for this motor vehicle is notexceeded.

In one embodiment, the technology disclosed here may comprise thefollowing steps:

(1) connecting the motor vehicle and the charging point through acharging current connection;

(2) communicating between the charging point and the motor vehicle;

(3) determining the currently applicable noise limit value; and

(4) limiting the noise emission.

Steps (2) to (4) may possibly be repeated if the boundary conditions inthe surroundings of the motor vehicle change. The charging point maydirectly trigger the trigger for a repetition of the process, or thismay be triggered via the communication by way of the backend server.

In order to comply with noise pollution requirements, the technologydisclosed here, in particular in the case of the solution with a backendserver, results in the advantage that, in the case of multiple vehiclesto be charged, the sum is able to be adapted dynamically to thereal-time consumption abilities of the vehicles. For example, if avehicle is charging with relatively low consumption and thus relativelylow noise on an EVSE-ID, then other vehicles would be allowed to makemore noise without the noise pollution requirements being infringed.

The noise level around the motor vehicle may expediently be determined,for example by a microphone provided in the motor vehicle (for examplethe hands-free system). The noise level may however also be acquired ina different manner. In one embodiment, the determined noise level aroundthe motor vehicle may be used for classifying and monitoringsurroundings, in particular such that the cooling device of the motorvehicle always falls below the surrounding noise level and stillprovides the cooling power required for charging. By way of example, afrequency image of the surroundings noise may be acquired. Furthermore,expediently, a vehicle user is able to set the intended dominance of thenoise emissions of the cooling device and thus influence its chargingpower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a method according to an exemplary embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The technology disclosed here is now explained with reference to FIG. 1. In step S100, the method is started. In step S200, the motor vehicleacquires the identification number of the charging point. This may beachieved for example through wired communication. Based on theidentification number, the motor vehicle may then determine the maximumnoise limit value in step S300, for example by receiving the noise limitvalue corresponding to this identification number through a serverquery. Provision may likewise be made for the motor vehicle to receivemultiple noise limit values that are linked to this identificationnumber. By way of example, various noise limit values for various timesof day may be transmitted. Based on the one or more received noise limitvalues, in step S400, the maximum noise emissions that the motor vehicleor the electrical energy storage device emit are limited. Provision maybe made for the steps to be repeated during charging.

For the sake of legibility, the expression “at least one” has beenomitted in some cases by way of simplification. If a feature of thetechnology disclosed here is described as being singular or undefined,then a plurality thereof is intended to be jointly disclosed at the sametime.

The above description of the present invention serves only forillustrative purposes and not for the purposes of restricting theinvention. Various changes and modifications are possible within thescope of the invention without departing from the scope of the inventionand its equivalents.

1.-14. (canceled)
 15. A method for charging at least one electricalenergy storage device of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:acquiring at least one item of information from a charging point; andlimiting maximum noise emissions that the motor vehicle or the at leastone electrical energy storage device are allowed to emit during thecharging by using the at least one item of information.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 15, wherein one item of the at least one item ofinformation is an identification number of the charging point.
 17. Themethod according to claim 15, wherein one item of the at least one itemof information is a maximum noise limit value, and wherein the maximumnoise limit value is indicative of the maximum noise emissions that themotor vehicle or the at least one electrical energy storage device areallowed to emit during the charging.
 18. The method according to claim17, wherein one item of the at least one item of information is anidentification number of the charging point, and wherein the maximumnoise limit value is determined using the identification number.
 19. Themethod according to claim 18, wherein the maximum noise limit value isdetermined in the motor vehicle.
 20. The method according to claim 18,wherein the motor vehicle receives the maximum noise limit value from aserver.
 21. A method for charging at least one electrical energy storagedevice of a motor vehicle, the method comprising: specifying at leastone maximum charging limit parameter corresponding to maximum noiseemissions to the motor vehicle for the charging; and using aspecification to limit the maximum noise emissions that the motorvehicle or the at least one electrical energy storage device are allowedto emit during the charging.
 22. The method according to claim 21,wherein the at least one maximum charging limit parameter is a maximumcharging power or a maximum charging current.
 23. The method accordingto claim 21, wherein the at least one maximum charging limit parameteris determined taking into consideration a motor vehicle type or a motorvehicle class of the motor vehicle.
 24. The method according to claim21, wherein the maximum noise emissions are limited using at least oneof a day of a week, a time of the day, or a date on which the motorvehicle is charged.
 25. The method according to claim 21, furthercomprising: acquiring at least one surroundings value, wherein: the atleast one surroundings value is indicative of noise emissions present inthe surroundings, and the at least one surroundings value is used tolimit the maximum noise emissions.
 26. A method for charging multiplemotor vehicles at multiple charging points, the method comprising: ineach of the motor vehicles, limiting the maximum noise emissions thatthe motor vehicles are allowed to emit during the charging using themethod according to claim 15, wherein at least one of maximum noiselimit values or charging limit parameters are selected such that noiseemissions jointly emitted by the multiple motor vehicles, or noiseemissions jointly emitted by the multiple motor vehicles and themultiple charging points do not exceed a limit value for surroundingsnoise emissions.
 27. A motor vehicle comprising: at least one energystorage device, wherein the motor vehicle configured to carry out themethod according to claim
 15. 28. A motor vehicle comprising: at leastone energy storage device, wherein the motor vehicle is configured: toacquire at least one item of information from a charging point, and tolimit maximum noise emissions that the motor vehicle or the at least oneenergy storage device are allowed to emit during a charging processusing the at least one item of information; and wherein the at least oneitem of information: is a maximum noise limit value, wherein the maximumnoise limit value is indicative of the maximum noise emissions that themotor vehicle of the at least one energy storage device are allowed toemit during the charging process; or is an identification number of thecharging point, wherein the maximum noise limit value is determinedusing the identification number.
 29. A computer product comprising anon-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon programinstructions that, when executed by a processor, carries out the methodaccording to claim 15.